The US Navy has commissioned the future USS Cooperstown (LCS 23) as the newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship, honoring 70 members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum who served in the military during wartime.
The commissioning ceremony for the USS Cooperstowntook place on Saturday, May 6, in New York City at 10:00 a.m. EDT.
Cooperstown, designated as LCS 23, is the 12th Freedom-variant LCS and the 23rd in its class. It holds the distinction of being the first ship named after Cooperstown, New York.
The ship was officially named on July 25, 2015, in a ceremony held at the National Baseball Hall of Fame, situated in Cooperstown itself. This naming pays tribute to the 70 distinguished individuals from the National Baseball Hall of Fame who valiantly served the United States Armed Forces during various conflicts, spanning from the Civil War to the Korean War.
“Cooperstown has a long-standing tradition of excellence and dedication to preserving the history and legacy of baseball, and the USS Cooperstown is a fitting tribute to that tradition,” said Ms. Alba Tull, ship’s sponsor. “The ship represents the best of America, our values, our commitment to defending our Nation and the interests of our country”
The LCS class is comprised of two variants, namely Freedom and Independence, which are developed and constructed by two distinct industry teams.
Lockheed Martin spearheads the Freedom-variant team, responsible for the odd-numbered hulls, with operations based in Marinette, Wisconsin. Austal USA takes the lead for the Independence-variant team, overseeing the construction of LCS 6 and the subsequent even-numbered hulls from their facilities in Mobile, Alabama.
The Freedom variant of Littoral Combat Ships measures 387.6 feet (118.1 meters) in length and 57.7 feet (17.6 meters) in a beam. With a full load displacement of approximately 3,450 metric tons, it demonstrates robustness. Operating with a draft of 14.1 feet (4.3 meters), it maintains maneuverability in shallow waters. The ship’s speed exceeds 40 knots, enabling swift navigation and response capabilities.
Cooperstown became the second ship to be delivered with a solution for a complex gearing mechanism that connects the ship’s gas turbines to its diesel engines. This issue had previously affected USS Detroit (LCS-7) and USS Little Rock (LCS-9) during their operations at sea. The first ship to be delivered with the fix was USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS-21).
Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) are agile surface combatants capable of countering coastal threats. They integrate with joint, combined, manned, and unmanned teams to support global missions, ensuring forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence.
Departing from New York City, the ship will set course for its homeport in Mayport, Florida.
